"A Lonely Life in XX" is a four-panel manga currently being serialized in "Dengeki Comics NEXT." Its original author is Katsuwo, known for "Mitsuboshi Colors." It's also set to be adapted into an anime with the same title in 2019, and is currently garnering a lot of attention. The protagonist, Ichiri Bocchi (Hitori Bocchi), is extremely shy and only made one friend in elementary school: Kai Yahara (Yawaraka Kai). Kai and I are separated after graduating from elementary school. So, Kai and I make a promise: "If I don't make friends with everyone in my class by the time we graduate from middle school, we'll break up." Will Bocchi be able to make friends in middle school? This time, we'd like to introduce the charm of Kurai Kako, the discipline committee member in Ichiri Bocchi's class, the protagonist of "A Lonely Life in XX."
① The Discipline Committee Member in Bocchi's Class!
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She is the discipline committee member for Ichiri Bocchi's class, the protagonist of "Hitoribottinomarumaruuseikatu_kuraikako" ("Lonely Life"). She has bob-length hair and wears a headband. She seems to enjoy reading, and can often be seen quietly reading by herself. She also seems to enjoy watching movies.
② Surprisingly Strict
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Just before summer vacation, Ichiri Bocchi was thinking about making new friends. Unable to initiate conversations, Bocchi purposely left his ribbon tie off as he headed to see the disciplinary committee member, Kurai Yoshiko. So what Bocchi had in mind was that the kind Yoshiko would lend him a replacement ribbon, and that they would promise to meet during the summer holidays to wash and return it. Bocchi appears in front of Yoshiko to carry out his plan, but when Yoshiko sees Bocchi without the ribbon, she seems annoyed, saying, "Hey Ichiri! What's with that sloppy look!" Furthermore, Yoshiko mistakes Bocchi for being excited because it's before summer holidays, and says, "I won't stand for that kind of thing."
③ Keeping a Close Eye on the Class
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Kurai Yoshiko, a member of the discipline committee, seems to keep a close eye on the class. Before summer vacation, Ichiri Bocchi purposely removed his ribbon tie and came to see Yoshiko in an attempt to become friends with her. At the time, Yoshiko said angrily, "I don't tolerate that kind of thing," but it seems there was a reason for that. After summer vacation, when Bocchi came to return the ribbon he had borrowed from Yoshiko, Yoshiko revealed, "I always thought it was great that Ichiri-san never messed up his uniform." That's why she was so disappointed when he took the ribbon off. His classmate Sotoka Rakita says that Bocchi usually tries to make himself invisible, but it seems Yoshiko was always aware of that side of Bocchi.
④ Shy
Source: A Lonely Life ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION
Just before summer vacation, Ichiri Bocchi purposely removed his ribbon tie in order to become friends with Yoshiko Kurai. However, Yoshiko, the discipline committee member, was not happy about this and seemed a little angry. Then, after summer vacation, Botchi brought back the ribbon he had borrowed that time. Botchi still wanted to be friends with Yoshiko, and when he returned the ribbon, he was planning to ask her to be his friend. However, he couldn't express it well. However, with the help of his friend Sunao Nako, he thought Yoshiko would notice him if he took the ribbon off, and told her, "I wanted to chat with Kurai-san." Yoshiko blushed and said, "Ehhhh!" in surprise. Botchi asked, "W-Will you keep talking to me?" and she clasped her hands behind her back, looking embarrassed, and said, "...If that's the case, I don't mind if you just chat."
⑤ I don't make friends?!
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Ichiri Bocchi approached Yoshiko Kurai, hoping to become friends with her. Before summer vacation, a misunderstanding arose, but he was able to clear it up by telling her that he wanted to talk to her after summer vacation. Then, Bocchi asks Yoshiko to continue chatting with him, to which Yoshiko happily replies that she doesn't mind a little chatting. However, as he leaves, Yoshiko says, "I have a lot going on so I don't make friends, so don't forget that!" The reason she doesn't make friends is so that she can become stronger. Yoshiko says, "The more friends you have, the more gaps you create in your heart. I want to become a strong person who can survive on my own."
⑥ A reliable discipline committee member who gets the job done
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One day, Ichiri Bocchi arrived at school earlier than usual. Thinking that the classroom would still be full, he reached for the door, only to find it unlocked. There, he saw Kurai Yoshiko. Yoshiko arrives at school early and changes the water in the vases and wipes down each and every desk in the classroom. She also regularly finds students whose uniform buttons are coming off and helps them sew them back on.
⑦ Stoic
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Kurai Yoshiko always arrives at school earlier than anyone else and takes the lead in her duties as a member of the discipline committee. "The more friends I have, the more vulnerable I become. I want to become a strong person who can survive on my own," she says, but she also seems to be very stoic. One day on the way home, when he remembers Ichiri Bocchi praising him by saying, "Amazing... Kurai-san is amazing!", he blushes and says, "Hehehehe," but quickly straightens his face and says, "I need more training..." as he starts walking.
⑧Her True Kindness
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Kurai Yoshiko has declared that she doesn't like to make friends. Despite this, Ichiri Bocchi seems undeterred and continues to pursue her. Although he says he doesn't want to make friends, there are times when his kindness is apparent, such as when he responds firmly when people talk to him and when he teaches Bocchi how to swing his arms when running during gym class.
⑨ Flexible Thinking
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Ichiri Bocchi was struggling to become friends with Kurai Yoshiko. So, during a field trip, Bocchi tried to be in the same group as Yoshiko. Summoning his courage, Bocchi directly invites Yoshiko, but she says, "I don't want to join the friendly group. Find someone else." Feeling the need to somehow keep her, Bocchi says, "I'm weak. So stay with me." Yoshiko then remembers Bocchi's mistake during the recent cooking class. When she asks him about it, Bocchi replies, "Al helped me out then." While Yoshiko thinks Al is a pathetic person, she reconsiders his strength and realizes that "you can't truly be considered a real person unless you can cover for others' mistakes." She then decides to join the same group on the field trip. While she stubbornly refuses to make friends, she seems to have a flexible mindset.
⑩. Are there any flaws?
Source: A Lonely Life ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION
The five of us—Ichiri Bocchi, Nako Sunao, Aru Honjo, Sotoka Rakita, and Yoshiko Kurai—came to visit the shrine for the New Year. After passing the food stalls and other attractions, it was finally time to pray. Sotoka explained, "The correct way to pray is to bow twice, clap twice, and bow once." However, Sotoka clasped her hands together and seemed to be chanting "Nire ni hakushu ichire" like a spell. Even Bocchi was repeating the same phrase, "Irei ni hakushu ichire." Upon hearing this, Al corrected her, saying, "No, it's not like a spell..." Even Yoshiko, who seems like a reliable person, was seen chanting "Nirei ni hakushu." Al was surprised, saying, "Even Yoshiko?! She's a member of the discipline committee?" It seems she has some surprising gaps.
A Summary of Yoshiko Kurai's Charms!
Source: A Lonely Life ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION
What did you think? This time, we introduced the charm of Kurai Yoshiko, the main character of "A Lonely Life" and the class disciplinary committee member of Ichiri Bocchi. As a member of the discipline committee, Yoshiko is a reliable and dependable girl. However, there is a contrast between the gentle and absent-minded sides that Yoshiko sometimes shows, and these are also aspects that make her a very charming character. Please pay attention to Yoshiko as well. Thank you for reading to the end.
